Dublin's festival season welcomes the world

Shelagh McNally, For Postmedia News09.12.2013

Arthur's Day is when Ireland raises a pint to celebrate Arthur Guinness, who founded Dublin's most famous brewery in 1759. More than 1,000 musicians will be on hand to entertain in the pubs across Ireland. Arthur's Day is famous for its surprise participants.

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There’s still time to enjoy Ireland’s The Gathering 2013, the hugely successful celebration of Irish history and culture, not least for the many special events running through September and October as part of Dublin’s festival season.

Dublin has a long history of nurturing actors, writers, and musicians and festival season is time for this vibrant city to showcase its culture. This year’s festival is more ambitious than ever this year because Dublin is a key city in The Gathering.

Through Sept. 22, the Dublin Fringe Festival hosts about 1,000 artists in over 600 events. The Fringe provides a platform for new companies as well as more established artists to perform in all manner of venues. Expect innovative performances from Irish and international artists in an eclectic lineup.

On Sept. 15, thousands will be looking to the skies during FlightFest. The Irish Aviation Authority has invited 30 commercial and historic aircraft from Ireland and abroad for a two-hour fly past through the downtown core. The Irish Air Corps and the United Kingdom’s Royal Air Force are also scheduled to participate.

Oktoberfest Dublin will be a treat for lovers of international beers. From Sept. 19 to Oct. 6, a traditional German market will feature over 30 food producers and traders selling the best of Bavarian delicacies, beer and wine. You might find yourself learning to yodel and polka with a decidedly Irish twist.

Dublin’s museums, churches, cathedrals and art galleries throw open their doors for Culture Night on Sept. 20. From 5 p.m. until 11 p.m. all ages are invited to travel the city enjoying Irish culture. There are even free performances on all Dublin buses and trams. The evening culminates with a specially commissioned piece performed by the RTE Concert Orchestra in Meeting House Square.

A special day for merrymaking is Arthur’s Day on Sept. 26, when Ireland raises a pint to celebrate Arthur Guinness, who founded Dublin’s most famous brewery in 1759. More than 1,000 musicians will be on hand to entertain in the pubs across Ireland. Arthur’s Day is famous for its surprise participants but this year’s confirmed lineup includes homegrown talents as well as internationally acclaimed artists Manic Street Preachers, Emeli Sandé, Janelle Monae and the legendary Bobby Womack.

The Dublin Theatre Festival (Sept. 26 to Oct. 13) never fails to confirm why Ireland is such a powerhouse in theatre. This is the time to see the best of Irish and world theatre. To mark the 60th anniversary of Waiting for Godot, the festival is mounting a new production of Samuel Beckett’s masterpiece. Playwright Frank McGuinness unveils The Hanging Gardens, his first play for the Abbey Theatre in 14 years, and Gate Theatre presents Mark O'Rowe's new translation of The Threepenny Opera.

Other festival highlights include the premiere of The Event by Scottish playwright David Greig, a staging of Eugene O’Neill’s Desire under the Elms and a public lecture by the award-winning actress Fiona Shaw.

Hard Working Class Heroes swings into its eleventh year with new Irish voices performing in various city-centre venues from Oct. 3 to 5. The popular festival features 100 bands in six venues and gets Dublin rocking. Audiences have a chance to hear some of the most original music being created in Ireland today.

The Irish Architecture Foundation hosts Open House Dublin 2013 from Oct. 4 to 6. Explore the city’s diverse architecture as close to 100 buildings open their doors to the public. Hundreds of local experts will give lectures and tours of Dublin’s most iconic buildings as well as some of the beautiful hidden gems. You can experience ancient cathedrals and medieval castles as well as explore Victorian offices and the splendour of Dublin’s Georgian homes.

Since 1979, the Dublin City Marathon has attracted runners from around the world. The 34th marathon takes place on Oct. 28 with a 42-kilometre course starting and finishing on O’Connell Street, Dublin’s main thoroughfare. There is no qualifying time required and the course is also open to walkers. Those not keen to participate can join the street parties to cheer the runners along before heading to one of the pubs along Temple Street.

Finally, visitors can celebrate the changing seasons with Dublin’s Samhain Festival, the traditional Halloween event signalling the end of the Celtic summer. Spooky celebrations start with the three-day Bram Stoker Festival from Oct. 25 to 27 and continue through the end of the month. There are literary workshops celebrating the Dublin novelist who created Dracula, walks through haunted streets and a ghoulish spectacle at Dublin Castle. On Oct. 31, the Samhain nighttime parade winds its way through the Parnell Square to Temple Bar and Wood Quay finishing with fireworks.

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